Feather plucking apparatus for poultry



1952 G. w. JOHNSON 2,607,072

FEATHER PLUCKING APPARATUS FOR POULTRY Original Filed Aug. 6, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l 46* I- --I' J0 v =1 E J7 h 1 4 36 z 3- .3 Z 7 v r INVENTOR,

Aug. 19, 1952 i G. w. JOHNSON ,0

FEATHER PLUCKING APPARATUS FOR POULTRY Original Filed Aug. 6, 1943 A f 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 19, 1952 G. w. JOHNSON FEATHER PLUCKING APPARATUS FOR POULTRY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 6, 1943 Aug. 19, 1952 G. w. JOHNSON 2,607,072

FEATHER PLUCKING APPARATUS FOR POULTRY Original Filed Aug. 6, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 19, 1952 G. w. JOHNSON 7,

FEATHER PLUCKING APPARATUS FOR POULTRY Original Filed Aug. 6, 1943 5 SheetsSheet 5 ENTOR.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 FEATHER PLUCKING APPARATUS FOR r O R Gordon W. Johnson, Raytown, Mo.,'-"assi'gnor to GOrdonJohnson Company, .Kansasl Gity,' Mo'.,..

acorporation of Missouri Substituted i for application iseiiai 5.

'"Augustfi, 1943;This app fc'ation Jun 8,1951} 1 I 3 10 Claims: olQn iri f- This application is a substitute for my I application,. SerialNo. 498,830, filed August 16, 1943, now abandoned.

This invention relates. to improvements in feather plucking apparatus for poultry or the like and is particularly directed to a machine that will rapidly and thoroughly remove the feathers from the fowl without bruising, scufllng or otherwise damaging the carcass.

Much difficulty has been experienced with the present rotary type feather plucking devices since the bendable feather engaging fingers now being used are too severe in their action and cause a bruising and scuffing of the carcass that is objectionable.

The principal object of the present invention is theprovision of a feather plucking apparatus having a rotatable member provided with a resilient peripheral bed carrying feather engaging lugs which can be readily adjusted radially by exerting a pressure against said lugs. I

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a feather plucking apparatus having feather engaging lugs adapted to be bodily compressed into a resilient bed as a carcass is pressed thereagainst, whereby the lugs are positioned to conform to the contour of the carcass.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of afeather picking apparatus having a rotary drum with a resilient peripheral bed-and means to vary the degree of resiliency of said bed. 1

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and efficiency of operation and adaptability for use to meet the requirements in plucking feathers from the various types of fowls.

Reference will now be had to the drawings wherein:

. Fig. 1 is a front view partly in section of a feather plucking apparatus embodying this invention. I

Fig. 2. is a fragmentary elevational view ofthe rotatable drum Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line III- 1H of Fig. 1..

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the rotatable drum taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus showing a chicken carcass positioned in the operative position thereon.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIVI of Fig. 5. d v

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 6 showing a leg of thefowl in a typical position for picking. 1

V is a sectional-view of airotary drum showinga modified form of the feather engaging lugs.

3 Fig. 9 is an elevationalview of a portion .of the rotary drum showninFig. 8.

away of thedrum axlewith the. right and, left hand threaded sleeves shown in elevation thereon.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional .view'of a further modification of the rotary member wherein. the resilient bed is made ;of pneumatic chambers. 1

Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the rotary membershdwninFigJlS. 1 I

I Fig. 17 is across sectional view taken on line XVII- -XVII of Fig. 151 4. p v 1' \Reference will nowbe had .to' the drawings wherein, like reference characters designates .similar partsthroughout the :several views and the numeral 20 designates a'housing supported .on'legs- 22 and-having an opening 24 at its upper extremitymfor admitting the carcassesv to be plucked. Brackets Zfi are rigidly supported by housing 20 and carry bearing members 28. of any suitable type in which the drum shaft 30 is mounted for rotation; :A rotatable member.32 includes a metal drum 34 which is rigidly attached-to shaft 30' by means of pins 36. These pins pass through hub members 38*which are concentrically formed on the cylinder ends40. Drum is flanged at; -Mounted on .drum34 and. extending=1entirely 'therearoun'd .is a relatively thick bandbnringl l to form: a bed :of

resilient material such as sponge rubber. which -may be cementedioriotherwise secured against relative movementto' said drum. This resilient bed extends substantially the full length of drum 34 and-its peripheryis disposed concentrically with the axis of rotation of said drum.

Anelastic blanket. 46 of substantially cylindrical shape and having 'inturned flanges-48 is adapted to encompass the outer periphery and 'end'portions-of the resilientbed 44. The inner portion of flanges 48 extend over the end portions 40 ofthe drum 34-and are securedthereto by means of clamp rings 50 which are forced thereagain'st by means of the adj usting screws The rotary member 32 is. adapted to be. driven in the direction indicated byl the arrowxiri-iliigi by means of a motor 56 whichls provided with a drive pulley 58 mounted on the motor shaft 60 and interconnected with drum pu1ley 62" :by

4 curved and extends slightly above the front wall to prevent the discharge of feathers, etc. from the machine.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be observed 5 that a'r-removable. feathercontainer BZ having a handlei84,1 ismormally=.positioned'.to. receive the feathers from the rotatable member. This az'feather container is especially useful for occasional picking. However, when long runs are ax-made it maybe desirable to remove this container and permit the feathers to pass directly through the machine to any type of conveyor that might .:be provided.

- Referencewill' now be had to the modified form shown in Figs- 8 and 9 wherein the principal variati'orrisintthd-blanket 86 provided with feather engag ng lugswfii It will be noted that these lugs areembedded in the blanket 86 so that they can be made of a different material, that is a material means of a belt 64. The motor 56 is mounted of different degrees of hardness and texture than omarsh'e'lf BGcarried sbyhousingitzand is shielded fronritherrotatableomemben by-rmeansofia: shield "68 whiclr forms a'; partitiomtherebetweem .IteWill also be noted that the bearings-28;pulleyswwand 6?; andsbelt:fi liarealsosprotected from the rotary y means of vertical; partitions-=10. I :The lugsilikrareiinclinedainwardly. to the directioneof .travel andtarezprotddedwithztransversezslots" 12 on their inclined working surfaces 1.4. 1These transverse :sslotsimaysbe sarcuate cor otherwise rthatzthe Eopera-tor supports ztherfowldn 'substan- $5 .tiallyathetpositiomshmns exerts: pressure: thereagainstiandismampulates-;the::bird to exposei all portions thereof toztheirubbingaactiomof the lugs :54. .WhenIthe: .fowliis athusypositioned 1' omthe rotary member it will be noted that themesilient 1 bedz-willpbemompressectscrthat the lugs '54 .will be positioned properly to contactrtheirr'egularzcon- :tour of thefowrscarcass. it istto:beeiunderstood that the fowl may be positioned inaanyimanner :bestrsuited forlthezparticulantypaof fowlrandthe itypeofzwork toi'hexione.

:Bye referring tcnEigs. fizmdhitwilhbe; observed ithatcrthez lugsicontactingthecarcass: will-mot only bezcompressed the rresilientsbed but? will; also :be moved=towardizeachgotherdat theirwoutermextremitiesztozcauser; a' clampingnefiectiagainststhe smallerrportionsssucheasxthemnecka or :degoof ithe fowl QthEI'BbYLEPDOdlICiIIgIiEQ'VBIYeIBfiEGti-VB i feather removingcaction; YZ IEh -S; actiomof: the: lugsionnthe body portion Buisf :best; shown inJEZigs-Geandizthe action on the; smallermortionseofecarcassrLris :shown'in-Figfl. U f

3Referringstdlligsid and- 5, itwillsbernoterhthat .therlugs .54 arerdisposed:inzspacectapartrrelation and: in annulanrows; i The-:space: between; adjacent ilugsr.exposes:utheablanketxto considerable wear; and it hagbeen found: expddientatoprovide transverse-ribs 1-6 's-betweenoadj acent: lugsz-to-zextendsandaccnnecttogethenthe'lussadiac m aannlllal. IOWIOflQHESdHSB IEfmEdFtO :'iThfiSGJIibS -16 not :only; protectathe: thinneniJortionsmf the blanket but-:also serv togplueknfeathersx from the smaller 3. portions; of; thercarcass-wvhioh: tend .to :bridge :across adiaeentlugsofra givemcircular "row- The: position that; theefowlris held; relative to the-rotating member ris-optionahwi-tlnthepper- .ator as is ralso the pressuresat which the-.fowt is pressed :against the lugs. .itt-wiltbeapparentthat .gtheyoperators stands adj acent-i the front rwallr 7 8 rof the apparatus: and that sthevrear wwa-ll illlsis 265 may be moved closer together.

filezblanketitselfj i iTheselugsBBmaybeFarranged in any-suitable' manner to bestfacilitateitheiparticular type of feather pluckingctozlordonefl'fhe :shap'ezof; lugs'c88i may be similaritoiiugsi flsorany other.shapettorfacilitate:proper;pluckingnof lthe feathers avithout injuryztor'thelcarcass. I

:Beference mdllrnowsbemad-torFigs; 10,: 1 1,112,713 S31d'l14uWhB1'6llls is showniaazsmodified. fonmtof the rotatable member which is adaptedtdsbe installed :inzthezsame:apparatuszandzdriverfiinlilikeimanner aa'sithe*rotatablememben'li2..ilThis'rotatable member::comprisesuthe shaft it301 on= twhich-sisriadjush .ab'lyrmonnteditspaced zapart zsleeves 1- 90 Lprovide'd with set screws.- 92ebymeans' 0f..which;the1sleeves are maintained in predetermined fixedr positions on'rithetshaft. .Thefsoutel Lp0llti0n$$OfiiS1e88 90 :are: threaded: to:receive.thecthreadedfhubsE 96 of the .endfd-iscsiilil; :Dnezdfthesefsleeves sis-provided :with: wrightixhanduthread 94 rand: the other with *aileft'xhand .Ithrea'd9551thussnaking-itipossible;to move the discsttowardzand:zfnomeeach other 'by rotatingthemihithesamedirection. i

:Lock :nuts: we care izprovided :.to cpreventiacch dental zmovement of'ath :discs nonithe .ssl'eeves. Eaclndisczhasra-slike;seriesiotmoles: i Gato -receive screws 5104 awhichzincturncengage .the :eonvolutions ofzarzhelioals'spri'ngi tflfi'swhichsextends' from sone zdisct toirhe otherzparallelwith the shaft 30. it.;:has .zbeen-formdzconvenient'rto shave the e'n'd portionsi ofzth'ezspri-ngs 1' 1:0 6 .proj ect. intoreoesses Hid. formeclzirtthe discs--concentricwith holes 1 02 (see Fig. 13). These springs I 06 are preferably 'equallyzspaceiso astocpresentuaresilient bearing for itheselastic blanket l H0. iZ'T-his l blan'ket is flangemiaat'sl i2: tocoverlapcithesend. discso m st v inI'EigQ :When it is desired-' to vary the resiliency of the spring bed, the operator simply adjus't s' the =end1discs=orr the sleeves-9 0; i -l3ymoving theset.discs apart the tension will increase andsshcizldz-itabe found advisable to r-lessen the ;tensionithe: discs This..-type ;of resilient bed functions :somewhatrsimilar .to' the sponge-rubber bed '.=-shown'-.; in :"E-ig; .Lsarfdzalso .permits ofa -:var-iationc'rrthev resiliencyof; the bed :bytightening, or-looseningesaid springs.

The modified formshow-nsimFigsi:15,:lfiandl'l differs from r thatsshown Sim-Fig. 1 .in i thatithe resilient bed of the rotatable membe 1i2ll-"con- .tem-platesthe use ofa pneumatic resilient bedfor .thta supporiz of the lugcarryi-ng elastic blanket 46. This pneumatic bedzcomprisesa;pliablearhousing I22 made of any suitable pliable material such as rubberized fabric, rubber, or any other suitable material impervious to air. This housing I22 is provided with one or more annular partitions I24 which serve to divide the housing chamber into a plurality of annular chambers I26. Each one of these chambers is provided with a filling tube I28 having a suitable valve I39. Each of the chambers I26 is independently inflatable, thus making it possible to vary the compressibility of the particular annular portions of the rotary member. By this means it is apparent that the operator will be able to so inflate the various chambers as to produce different picking effects suitable for the varying condition of the carcass during the picking operation. For instance, at the start of the picking operation, it may be desirable to provide a less resilient base than is needed during the finishing operation.

The filling tubes I28 are shown extending through end plate 40 of the cylinder with the valves I30 exposed for inflation and deflation.

In all forms shown the principal feature considered is the production of a rotary member carrying feather engaging lugs which are mounted on a resilient peripheral base that is adapted to be compressed by the action of the carcass thereagainst to permit the lugs to be positioned to properly contact the irregular contour of the carcass. The resilient property of the underlying bed and the centrifugal force acting on the rotating lugs, tends to normally maintain the operating surface of the rotary member in cylindrical form and this cylindrical form is distorted only when the carcass is pressed thereagainst. The degree of depression of the resilient bed depends upon the pressure exerted thereagainst and by varying the depth of the resilient bed the carcass may be embedded in the rotary member to various degrees.

These different feather-plucking machines are also adapted for use in removing Wax from the carcasses, when a coating of wax is used for removing the final feathers and pin feathers in the picking operation.

From the foregoing description it is very apparent that many minor variations in structure and operation may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A feather plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable member having an annular series of coil springs at its periphery, and an undulated resilient member positioned on said series of springs, whereby when a carcass is forced against said undulated resilient member the adjacent springs of said series will be depressed.

2. A feather plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable member, a series of coil springs disposed parallel to the axis of said rotatable member and carried thereby, a band of resilient material having outwardly projecting feather engaging means on the surface thereof carried by said series of coil springs.

3. A feather plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable cylindrical member having a pneumatic peripheral portion mounted thereon, said pneumatic peripheral portion having a plurality of transversely disposed independently inflatable chambers, and transversely and circumferentially spaced apart feather engaging lugs of relatively hard elastic material carried by and extending outwardly from the outer wall of said pneumatic peripheral portion and adapted to b extended radially into said pneumatic portion by a feathered carcass pressed thereagainst.

4. A feather-plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable cylindrical member, having a resilient support at its periphery, an elastic blanket carried on said resilient support and having a plurality of outwardly projecting feather engaging lugs having working faces inclined inwardly to the direction of travel of the cylindrical member.

5. A feather-plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable cylindrical member, having a resilient support at its periphery, an elastic blanket carried on said resilient support and having a plurality of outwardly projecting feather engaging lugs having working faces inclined inwardly to the direction of travel of the cylindrical member, and having transverse grooves formed in said working faces.

6. In a feather-plucking apparatus a rotatable cylindrical member having a resilient support at its periphery, a pliable sheet carried by said resilient support, a plurality of spaced apart lugs carried by said pliable sheet, each lug having an undulated working surfac adapted to engage a feathered carcass and remove the feathers therefrom as said cylindrical member is rotated.

7. In a feather-plucking apparatus a rotatable cylindrical member having a resilient support at its periphery, a pliable sheet carried by said resilient support, a plurality of spaced apart lugs carried by said pliable sheet adapted to be successively positioned to contact the irregular contour of a fowl carcass as the cylindrical member is rotated.

8. A feather-plucking apparatus comprising a substantially cylindrical rotatable member having a relatively thick resilient peripheral bed, an elastic sheet carried by said resilient bed and having lugs adapted to be moved bodily into said resilient bed as a feathered carcass is pressed thereagainst whereby the lugs will follow the irregular contour of the carcass.

9. A feather-plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable member having a cylindrically formed pneumatic peripheral member mounted thereon, and. transversely and circumferentially spaced apart feather engaging lugs of relatively hard elastic material carried by and extending outwardly from said pneumatic member.

10. A feather-plucking apparatus comprising a rotatable member, an annular rubber cushion carred by said rotatable member, and a tubular elastic member of relatively hard rubber mounted on said cushion and having feather engaging means extending outwardly therefrom.

GORDON W. JOHNSON.

No references cited. 

